Toy



April 1963 L. H. BUCKNER 3,087,730

TOY

Filed May 11, 1960 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. LOUIS H. BUCKNER ATTORNEYS (911M517, H n/M2951 United States Patent Filed May 11, 1960, Ser. No. 28,288 10 Claims. (Cl. 273-98) The present invention relates to a toy and, more par- .ticularly, to a toy missile which may serve as a toy in itself or be used in combination with a paddle game device.

In my prior Patent No. 2,376,755, which is hereby incorporated by reference, I have described a missile composed of three strips or legs of substantially square crosssection. To assemble a missile from such strips, it is necessary to mortise medial portions of the strips and then interfit them. While two of the three strips or legs could be so positioned in a fairly uniform balanced manner, the third leg necessarily was placed oif center or off balance with respect to the other two legs.

By means of the present toy, I am able to fabricate a six pointed missile which is uniformly balanced; easily assembled and disassembled; more attractive in appearance; and much less expensive to manufacture.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a toy.

Another object is to provide a toy in the form of a three dimensional, six pointed star or missile.

A further object is to provide such a toy that may be easily assembled and disassembled.

A further object is to provide an improved missile that may be used in combination with a paddle game device.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention consists of the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and following disclosure describing in detail the invention, such drawing and disclosure illustrating, however, but one or more of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced.

In the annexed drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in the actual playing of a game and shows a paddle as held by the hand of a player and a missile flexibly connected to the end of the paddle by a cord, the movement of the missile in the course of play being shown by solid and dotted lines;

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 are plan views of each of the members forming my improved missile;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the members of FIG- URES 2 and 3 positioned to receive the member of FIG- URE 4; and

'FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the three members assembled to form a missile.

Referring initially to FIGURES 2 through 6, my improved missile comprises three planar members 10, 11 and 12 of generally congruent oval configuration. These members are of substantially equal length and weight which together with their manner of assembly, herein after described, provides a uniformly balanced missile, that is, one that does not favor a heavier side in descending as in play with a paddle board of FIGURE 1.

Each of the members may be made of a synthetic plastic such as a polyvinyl resin, for example polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylidene chloride, etc. The members are easily manufactured as by stamping from a flexible sheet of the resin.

Member has an enlarged medial portion 10a to accommodate a transversely disposed slot 13 of a size frictionally to receive member 12, as hereinafter described, while having ends or tips 10b substantially congruent to ICC the corresponding parts of the other members 11 and 12. Member 11 has an undisturbed oval shape and is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 14 substantially equal in length and width to slot 13. Member 12 has a narrower transverse width x which is substantially equal in length to the slots 13 and 14. Immediately adjacent the transverse width x, member 12 has opposed shoulder portions 15. An opening 16 is used to receive a cord by which the assembled missile is attached to a paddle. Although the opening 16 is shown in member 12, it could as well be placed in either member 10 or member 11. Preferably, the members are of a different color. For example, members 10, 11 and 12 could be, respectively, red, blue and white.

In assembling my missile, members 10 and 11 are p ositioned so that their respective slots 13 and 14 are superposed as illustrated by FIGURE 5. The end 12a of member 12 is inserted through the superposed slots. Since Width x is of substantially the same length as the slots 13 and 14, there is a pressure or wedging sn-ug fit, as the member 12 passes through the slots 13 and 14, which hold-s all three members in assembly. The opposed shoulder portions 15 limit the amount of insertion by member 12 through the slots by abutting against one of the other members.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the members assembled as described jointly intersect each other at a medial portion of each member and, more particularly, define three intersecting planes having three pairs of radially and oppositely projecting prongs which together form the missile M. Any two of the planes include all of the prongs.

The ease of assembly and disassembly of the present missile together with its multi-colored appearance make it an attractive toy for younger children. However, the missile is particularly adapted for use with a game paddle device such as shown in FIGURE 1. In this embodiment, an elongated paddle 17 which, for example, may be made from plywood or cardboard includes a flat blarle portion 17a and a handle 17b. The blade 17 is here shown with three axially aligned holes or openings 18, 1E! and 20, and the margins of these apertures are painted or colored transversely. of the blade as red, white, and blue, as indicated in the drawing, so that the openings are differen tiated one from the other. Additionally, the openings are numbered upon their opposite margins with a predetermined range of numbers, the numbers upon one margin being of lower value than the numbers upon the opposite margin. For example, as illustrated in FIG- URE 1, the red-'rnargined opening 18 is numbered 15 on one margin and 30 on the opposite mar-gin; the White-margined opening 19 is numbered 5 on one margin and 15 on the opposite margin; and the blue-margined opening 20 is numbered 10 on one margin and 20 on the opposite margin. However, any desirable system of numbering may be employed for the purpose of scoring the play of the game.

The use of the game device involves both the exercise of skill and the element of chance. A cord 21 is fixed at one end to the missile through the opening 16 in the member 12 and at the other end to an opening 22 in the blade 17a at that end of the paddle remote from the handle 17b. In playing one form of a game possible with the paddle and missile combination, the paddle 17 is extended horizontally and with the missile hanging pendant at the lower end of the cord 21. A sharp upward jerk is then imparted to the paddle, which jerks the missile upward and above the paddle. By exercise then of the proper skill, the player may succeed in catching the missile upon the blade of the paddle, and with one of the prongs of the missile projected down through one of the apertures of the blade.

The scoring of the game is reckoned both by the numbers at the margins of the aperture which is entered by a leg or prong of the missile, and also by the circumstance of whether or not the prong or leg thus entering the aperture is of the same color as the margins of that aperture, the score being increased if the colors are the same, otherwise not.

It is obvious that many sets of rules might be formulated for the playing of games with the described device as a scoring element. The primary basis of play would be however that if a leg or prong of the missile entered an aperture of the blade, and the color of the prong corresponded with the color of the margins of the aperture, then the player would score the higher number carried upon the margin of that aperture, but if the colors of the leg and margins were different, then he would score the lower number. It is obvious too that a greater or less number of the apertures than those shown here, might be provided in the blade, and that the coloring of the margins also might be correspondingly varied, without departing from the essence of the invention.

As an illustration of a sample method of play, each player would be provided with one of the scoring devices as here shown and described. Each player in turn might be given five chances or throws in turn; for engaging prongs of the missile in one of the apertures of the blade. If three of the throws are missed before the five throws are completed, the player strikes out, and has no further chance or throw. Otherwise he scores as aforesaid, according to the numbers at the margins of the aperture engaged by a prong of the missile, and according to the correspondence or diversity of the coloring of the prong and the margins of the aperture engaged. When the red, white and blue-margined apertures are caught or engaged in rotation, the score would be "called a flag, and would entitle the player to twenty-five additional points. When in such a play the colors of the prongs would correspond with the color of the margins of the apertures, then the score would be called a grand flag, and would entitle the player to seventy-five additional points. Otherwise the scoring would be made by simple addition of the numbers scored, as indicated marginally of the apertures engaged. As stated, these rules for scoring are merely illustrative, and may be varied at will.

Other forms embodying the features of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the features herein disclosed, provided those stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such features be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A substantially uniformly balanced toy missile having six radially projecting prongs and comprising three substantially fiat members jointly intersecting at a medial portion of each, said members being disposed in two general planes intersecting each other at substantially right angles, a first member having a transversely disposed slot, a second member having a longitudinally disposed slot superposed over. said first slot, said slots being substantially of equal size, and a third member inserted through the superposed slots and having means to limit the extent of such insertion, said third member making a snug fit and serving to hold the three members in assembly.

2. A uniformly balanced toy missile adapted for easy assembly and disassembly and having three pairs of radially and oppositely projecting prongs, said missile comprising three substantially fiat blades jointly intersecting at a medial portion of each to define three intersecting planes of which two intersect each other at substantially right angles, a first blade having a transversely disposed slot, a second blade having. a longitudinally disposed slot superposed over said first slot, said slots being substantially of equal size, and a third blade inserted through the superposed slots and having a transverse width substantially equal to the length of said slots frictionally to hold the three blades in assembly, said third blade having a shoulder portion to limit the extent of such insertion.

3. A toy missile adapted for easy assembly and disassembly and having three pairs of radially and oppositely projecting arms of substantially equal length and weight to impart balance to the toy, said missile comprising three relatively flat elongated members of generally congruent oval configuration jointly intersecting at a medial portion of each to define three planes, two of the planes being parallel and intersecting the third plane at right angles, a first member having an enlarged medial portion to accommodate a transversely disposed slot therein, a second member having a longitudinally disposed slot positioned at right angles over said first member to superpose the slots, said slots being of substantially equal size, and a third member intersecting the medial portions of said other two members through said slots and having a medial transverse width substantially equal to the lengths of said slots to make a wedging snug fit and thereby hold the three members frictionally in assembly, and opposed shoulder portions on the edges of said third member immediately adjacent said medial transverse width to abut against one of said other members and limit the extent of such insertion.

4. The missile of claim 3 wherein said members of generally oval congruent configuration are composed of flexible plastic strips.

5. The missile of claim 3 wherein said members of generally oval congruent configuration are of different colors.

6. In a game device including an elongated substantially flat paddle having a plurality of unobstructed openings therethrough and provided at one end with a handle, a missile, and a flexible cord connecting the missile with the paddle adjacent that end of the paddle remote from the handle; an improved uniformly balanced missile adapted for easy assembly and disassembly and having three pairs of radially and oppositely projecting prongs, said missile comprising three substantially fiat blades jointly intersecting at a medial portion of each to define three intersecting planes of which two intersect each other at substantially right angles, a first blade having a transversely disposed slot, a second blade having a longitudinally disposed slot superposed over said first slot, said slots being substantially of equal size, and a third blade inserted through the superposed slots and having a transverse width substantially equal to the length of said slots frictionally to hold the three blades in assembly, said third blade having a shoulder portion to limit the extent of such insertion.

7. In a game device including in combination an elongated substantially flat paddle having a plurality of unobstructed openings therethrough and provided at one end with a handle and with scoring indicia associated with such openings, a missile, and a flexible cord connecting the missile with the paddle adjacent that end of the paddle remote from the handle; an improved missile adapted for easy assembly and disassembly and having three pairs of radially and oppositely projecting arms of substantially equal length and weight to impart balance to the toy, said missile comprising three relatively fiat elongated members of generally congruent oval configuration jointly intersecting at a medial portion of each to define three planes, two of the planes being parallel and intersecting the third plane at right angles, a first member having an enlarged medial portion to accommodate a transversely disposed slot therein, a second member having a longitudinally disposed slot positioned at right angles over said first member to superpose the slots, said slots being of substantially equal size, and a third member intersecting the medial portions of said other two members through said slots and having a 5 medial transverse width substantially equal to the lengths of said slots to make a wedging snug fit and thereby hold the three members frictionally in assembly, and opposed shoulder portions on the edges of said third member immediately adjacent said medial transverse width to abut against one of said other members and limit the extent of such insertion.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the length of a pair of arms lying in each plane exceeds the size of the openings in the paddle.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein the arms of the missile are differently colored and the areas of the paddle adjacent the holes are also differently colored, the colors of the arms corresponding to the colors of the areas adjacent the openings.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein one of said members has an opening adjacent its medial portion to receive said cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Buckner May 22, 1945 2,829,894 Henkel Apr. 8, 1958 2,972,481 Shapiro Feb. 21, 1961 

6. IN A GAME DEVICE INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT PADDLE HAVING A PLURALITY OF UNOBSTRUCTED OPENINGS THERETHROUGH AND PROVIDED AT ONE END WITH A HANDLE, A MISSILE, AND A FLEXIBLE CORD CONNECTING THE MISSILE WITH THE PADDLE ADJACENT THAT END OF THE PADDLE REMOTE FROM THE HANDLE; AN IMPROVED UNIFORMLY BALANCED MISSILE ADAPTED FOR EASY ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY AND HAVING THREE PAIRS OF RADIALLY AND OPPOSITELY PROJECTING PRONGS, SAID MISSILE COMPRISING THREE SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BLADES JOINTLY INTERSECTING AT A MEDIAL PORTION OF EACH TO DEFINE THREE INTERSECTING PLANES OF WHICH TWO INTERSECT EACH OTHER AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES, A FIRST BLADE HAVING A TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED SLOT, A SECOND BLADE HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED SLOT SUPERPOSED OVER SAID FIRST SLOT, SAID SLOTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY OF EQUAL SIZE, AND A THIRD BLADE INSERTED THROUGH THE SUPERPOSED SLOTS AND HAVING A TRANSVERSE WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF SAID SLOTS FRICTIONALLY TO HOLD THE THREE BLADES IN ASSEMBLY, SAID THIRD BLADE HAVING A SHOULDER PORTION TO LIMIT THE EXTENT OF SUCH INSERTION. 